In the opulent world of resort design, no two bathrooms are created equal. It takes a lot more these days than an outdoor shower to make a bathroom fabulous. While many of those classic white tubs have gone the way of the dodo bird, there is a new generation that has elevated the bathing experience to new heights.
In spaces bigger than some studio apartments in Manhattan, check out the crème de la crème of bathrooms in the Caribbean. Toast the sunset from a super spacious soaking tub built for two or enjoy a leisurely shower solo in a fragrant outdoor garden.
Villa 20 at Round Hill Hotel and Villas – Jamaica
Just when you think you’ve seen the most gorgeous bathroom ever, think again. Sporting an elegant design, en suite bathrooms in the top-shelf Villa 20 at Round Hill Hotel and Villas west of Montego Bay are showstoppers of the highest order. More like bathing pavilions than mere bathrooms, furnishings crafted by local artisans marry a West Indies vibe with modern amenities.
A soak in a tub that salutes the greenery right outside the doors is a vacation must-do.
Baoase Luxury Resort – Curacao
Named for the owners’ first initials and the Dutch word for oasis, Baoase Luxury Resort on the southwest side of Curacao is home to the most magical bathrooms on the island. With Bali-inspired décor and glorious views just outside the ornate wooden doors, the open-air tubs carved from Indonesian river boulders are works of art that might keep you in a spiritual soak all day.
Royale Villa at Eden Roc Cap Cana – Dominican Republic
At the Dominican Republic’s only Relais & Châteaux member hotel, the Royale Villa at Eden Roc Cap Cana is, indeed, royal with a chessboard design of elegant noir and stark ivory. The epitome of luxury, the master bathroom is accessorized with his and hers marble sinks, enchanting rain showers, Jacuzzi tub, views of the outdoor seated garden and Italian chic Acqua di Parma amenities.
Sandals Resorts – Throughout Caribbean
True tub trailblazers, Sandals Resorts invites twosomes to cozy up in a ‘Tranquility Soaking Tub’ perfectly perched on the balconies and patios of select top-shelf suites at many of the adults-only all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. Behind privacy curtains, go the distance with butler service, a bottle of chilled champagne, a warm bubble bath and an apres soak dinner for two served at sunset.
Note to couples: use the online filter ‘Tranquility Soaking Tub’ when booking a stay.
Point of View Villa at The Tryall Club – Jamaica
There are views and then there are views from the Point of View Villa at the Tryall Club west of Montego Bay in Jamaica. The exquisitely designed, 5-bedroom villa is one of the most requested, courtesy of the beguiling ocean views to the north and green hills to the west.
Center stage in the master bathroom is a free-standing white porcelain tub that takes soaking to new heights. Wrap-around wooden shuttered windows open to enchanting views and the gentle warm breeze.
Jade Mountain – St. Lucia
Where you’ll soak in the views as you soak in the tub, Jade Mountain in St. Lucia makes quite a splash. With panoramic vistas of the conical Pitons, whirlpool tubs in the swanky suites with no fourth wall (or sanctuaries, as they’re called) are perched on pedestals and designed with a fantastical ‘chromotherapy’ system of underwater lighting that soothes in a kaleidoscope of colors.
Ask the butler to set the mood with a candle-lit bubble bath, chocolate bonbons made from the cacao beans harvested at the resort’s Emerald Estate Farm and a bottle of bubbly.
Love Pumpkin at COMO Parrot Cay – Turks and Caicos
Where the coconut palms keep a beat with the breeze, COMO Parrot Cay, a private island resort in the Turks and Caicos Islands, is the home-away-from-home for A-listers who pay top dollar for a paparazzi-free holiday. In the oceanfront estate called Love Pumpkin, the en suite bathroom in the master bedroom is artfully designed with stone sinks, pillow-flanked bench and floors etched with sea fossils.
Keep the doors open to indulge in the waterfall shower and sea views on the other side.
GoldenEye – Jamaica
The epicenter of cool on Jamaica’s north coast, GoldenEye in the sleepy town of Oracabessa is where spy writer Ian Fleming penned 14 of his James Bond thrillers. In the Fleming Villa where his desk still stands, we can’t promise you’ll be inspired to write a novel, however, you can bet on a relaxing soak in a clawfoot cast iron garden bathtub.
Ideal for a gaggle of fans, each of the 3 bedrooms in the main villa has its own tropical bath area with a tub and garden shower.